Волшебство страны Оз

           "It’scurious,"remarkedthesailor,munchinghisapple,"howthesefruitskeepgoodwhenyou’vepicked’em,butdis’pearinterthinairifthey’releftonthebush."

           "Thewholethingiscurious,"declaredthegirl,"anditcouldn’texistinanycountrybutthis,wheremagicissocommon.Thosearelimes.Don’tpick’em,forthey’dpuckerupyourmouthand—Ooo!herecomeplums!"andshetuckedherappleinherapronpocketandcapturedthreeplums—eachonealmostasbigasanegg—beforetheydisappeared.Cap’nBillgotsometoo,butbothweretoohungrytofastanylonger,sotheybeganeatingtheirapplesandplumsandletthemagicbushbearallsortsoffruits,oneafteranother.TheCap’nstoppedoncetopickafinecantaloupe,whichheheldunderhisarm,andTrot,havingfinishedherplums,gotahandfulofcherriesandanorange;butwhenalmosteverysortoffruithadappearedonthebush,thecropceasedandonlyflowers,asbefore,bloomeduponit.

           "Iwonderwhyitchangedback,"musedTrot,whowasnotworriedbecauseshehadenoughfruittosatisfyherhunger.

           "Well,youonlywisheditwouldbearfruit’forawhile,’"saidthesailor,"anditdid.P’rapsifyou’dsaid’forever,’Trot,itwouldhavealwaysbeenfruit."

           "ButwhyshouldMYwishbeobeyed?"askedthegirl."I’mnotafairyorawizardoranykindofamagic-maker."

           "Iguess,"repliedCap’nBill,"thatthislittleislandisamagicisland,andanyfolksonitcantellthebushwhattoproduce,an’it’llproduceit.